# Win2K automatic logoff?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win2k-automatic-logoff/98268>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 14, 2002, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win2k-automatic-logoff/98268 "2002-03-14T14:09:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win2k-automatic-logoff/98268/1 "2002-03-14T14:09:22Z")

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One of the screen savers in Windows is the “logon” screen saver - that is, when the screen saver starts, it looks like the logon screen. But it’s just a screen-saver – when you move the mouse, the password protected screen saver does its thing. It tells you that only the previous user, or an administrator, can unlock the machine and log in.

Is there any utility or driver that actually logs off a local user from Win2K after x minutes of inactivity, so that instead of a faux login screen, there would be a real, live, anyone-can-log-in-now screen?

- Rick

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**Author:** ![Dilbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58f4c7/32.png) [@Dilbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dilbert)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win2k-automatic-logoff/98268/2 "2002-03-14T14:30:09Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Bricker \*  
> **Is there any utility or driver that actually logs off a local user from Win2K after x minutes of inactivity, so that instead of a faux login screen, there would be a real, live, anyone-can-log-in-now screen?**

The company I work for wrote one, but I’m sure you can’t afford it. I’d be willing to bet if you check [download.com](http://download.com) you’ll find one.

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**Author:** ![Dilbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58f4c7/32.png) [@Dilbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dilbert)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win2k-automatic-logoff/98268/3 "2002-03-14T14:32:54Z")

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This search should do it for ya:

[http://download.cnet.com/downloads/1,10150,0-10001-103-0-1-7,00.html?tag=srch&qt=automatic+logoff&cn=Home+%26+Desktop&ca=10001](http://download.cnet.com/downloads/1,10150,0-10001-103-0-1-7,00.html?tag=srch&qt=automatic+logoff&cn=Home+%26+Desktop&ca=10001)